23 May 2018 Benalla Ensign, Benalla VIC (General News) Massive crowds attended Winton Motor Raceway last weekend for round six of the Virgin Australia Supercars Championships, featuring the 2018 Winton Supercars Supersprint. The three-day event attracts racing fans from across Australia, with more than 5000 people camping on the racetrack campground. Supercars have a massive fan base, with the 2018 Winton Supercars Supersprint being broadcast in more than 100 countries, with a household reach of 60 million viewers in China and 45 million viewers in India. The state government is a strong supporter of Winton Motor Raceway, providing it with funding through the Regional Events Fund to assist with the cost of staging this years Supersprint. Benalla local, and State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes secured funding for the Benalla Auto Club to undertake a major resurface of the track and safety upgrades in 2016. During the construction phase, the project injected more than $3 million into the local economy. The Regional Events Fund has helped to deliver a successful calendar of more than 160 local events throughout the state, which have brought a steady stream of visitors, increased overnight stays and boosted the regional economy. The flow-on effects of successful regional events like the V8 Supercars at Winton can be felt throughout Victoria, with Ballarat-based motoring business Albins Performance Transmission directly benefiting from the Supercars being held at the Winton Motor Raceway, Ms Symes said. Albins Performance Transmission has worked closely with Supercars during the past five years to develop and supply transmission and drivetrain products as part of the Supercars Car of the Future program. Having secured the exclusive supply agreement for Supercars for a further 12 months to cover the 2018 racing season, Albins Performance Transmission is reaping the rewards of a jampacked calendar of racing events. The Victorian Government provided support to Albins Performance Transmissions through the Future Industries Manufacturing Program and Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund, allowing them to invest further in new technologies, expand capacity and create 20 new jobs. Its great to have the V8s back in my home town of Benalla, helping create local jobs and attracting thousands of visitors to the region, Ms Symes said. Motor racing is a hugely popular sport in Victoria and I hope racing enthusiasts enjoyed the action on and off the track at this weekends 2018 Winton Supercars Supersprint. Supercars provides a fantastic opportunity to broadcast Winton and North-East Victoria to the world.